Playing piece



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,643

H. S. WITTMAAK PLAYING PIECE Filed Sept. 13, 1927 H 1 maafi Patented Sept. 11, 1928 I Q UNITED STA TEST PATENT OFFICE},

HAROLD s. WITTMAAK, or ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLAYING PIECE.

Application filed September 13, 1927. Serial No. 219,287.

I throw or pitch to cause the playingpiece to make a partial turn, or more than'one turn while in the air, thus increasing skill incident to the use of the playing piece.

An'add'itional object-of the invention is to provide a device of this kind with means whereby it will be held against sliding movement when landingon a hard ground or surface or through sand and kindred material.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of the several parts of my improved playing piece whereby certain 11nportant advantages are attained and the device rendered. simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better. understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in bottom plan of a 'playingpiece constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figurefl is a sectional view taken radially of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the device as hereindisclosed.

As illustrated in the accompanying draw mg, my improved playing piece comprises a body member B of a disc like formation and which may be made of any material best suited for the purpose. This bodymember B is substantially concavo convex in form with its convex face constituting the top of the body member.

At its axial center the body member B is provided with a relatively large circular opening 1 and in its periphery said body member B is provided therea-round with the circumferentially disposed and equi distantly spaced recesses 2. Each of. these-recesses 2 15 of a relatively large diameter and is part1- circular in form with its peripheral wall disposed in excess of a semi-circle. This particular formation of the recessesQ results 1n the open end portions of saidrecesses being I provided with the inwardly disposed fingers 3'having their outer end portions reversely rounded, as at 4: and merging with the adj acent peripheral edges at the member B, thus providing means whereby the body member B may be ei'fectively gripped by the player. In practice, the player preferably grasps the body 13 in the hand with the forward portion of the forefinger extending around a finger 3 i with the thumb of the hand overlying the top or convex face of the body member. vVhen so grasped it hasbeen found in practice that the playerhas a skillful control of the member B duringprojection and particularly to effect gauging of the throw or, pitch? to give the body member B a requisite turn which may be a partial turn or more than one turn as is employed by players skilled in. the well known game of quoits. It is to be stated at this time, however, that with my improved playing piece the tumbler turn cannot be accon'iplished.

Each of the fingers 3 has depending therefrom a calk 5 herein disclosed of a conventional pyramid type and the peripheral portion of the body member substantially midway of adjacent recesses 2 is provided with a depending elongated calk6,.the longitudinal axis of which being ferential direction. V

The central opening 1 has a valuation, as indicated at 7, and preferably the highest, while each of the recesses 2 has a valuation,

disposed in a circumas indicated at 8.. In practice it is preferred that the valuations of the recesses 2 vary.

The substantially concavo'convex formation of the body member 13 provides effective means to prevent the body member sliding through sand or kindred material while the calks 5 and 6 effectively hold the member against sliding movement when thrown upon l i of the throw will be determined by the recess 2 in which the stake may be received or the opening 1.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a playing piece constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification "without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim y Y l. A playing piece of the character described comprising a disc-like body member, said member heingsubstantially 'concavo convex with its convex face constituting its top surface, said member having a central opening and a plurality of recesses provided in the peripheral portion thereof equi-distantly spaced in a circumferential direction, adj accnt recesses being spaced apart less than one hundred and eighty degrees, said recesses being parti-circularin form with the extremities of the wallsthereofconstituting in wardly disposed fingers, said fingers being reversely rounded and merging with the adjacent peripheral edges of the bodymember.

2. A playing piece of the character described comprising a disc-like body member, said member being substantially concavo convex with its convex face constituting its top surface, said member having, a central opening and a plurality of recesses provided in the peripheral portion thereof cqui-distantly spaced in a circumferential direction, adjacent recesses being spaced apart less than one hundred and eighty degrees, said recesses being parti-circular in form with the extremities of the walls thereof constituting inwardly disposed fingers, said fingers being reversely rounded and merging with the adj accnt peripheral edges of the body member, and calks depending from the fingers at the extremities of the recesses.

3. A playing piece of the character described comprising a disc-like body member, said member being substantially concave convex with its convex face constituting its top surface, saidmember having a central opening and a plurality of recesses provided in'the peripheral portion thereof equi-distantly spaced in a circumferential direction, adjacent recesses being spaced apart less than one hundred and eighty degrees, said'reccsses being parti-circular in form with the extremities of the walls thereof constituting inwardly disposed fingers, said fingers being reversely rounded and mergin with the adj accnt peripheral, edges of the body member, calks depending from the peripheral portion of the body member substantially midway between adjacent recesses, and calks depending from the fingers at the extremities of the recesses.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

' HAROLD S. VVITTMAAK. 

